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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Town Creek (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Town Creek. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Name Variations for Town Creek ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Another variation: Towncreek.

  • A typical abbreviation for Town Creek: Town Crk. (or less commonly used: Town Ck. or Town Cr.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Town Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Town Creek.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Town Creek is located in Brunswick County.

To see how the shape of North Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Brunswick County: Columbus, New Hanover, Pender & Horry (SC).

Below are the counties that are near Town Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Town Creek:

  • Brunswick County     (The home county of Town Creek)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Town Creek, with the one closest to Town Creek listed first.
    • Winnabow
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Leland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Leland is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,647 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leland <1>
    • Malmo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Malmo is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
    • Old Town
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Old Town is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Belville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Belville is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,135 people
    • Bolivia
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Navassa
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Navassa is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navassa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,534 people
    • Phoenix
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Phoenix is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
    • Sandy Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Sandy Creek is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 319 people
    • Boiling Spring Lakes
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Boiling Spring Lakes is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Spring Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,430 people
    • Northwest
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Northwest is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
    • Supply
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Bladen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Town Creek, with the one closest to Town Creek listed first.
    • East Arcadia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • East Arcadia is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Arcadia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
    • Long View
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Long View is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
    • Kelly
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Kelly is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Council
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Council is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
  • Columbus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Town Creek, with the one closest to Town Creek listed first.
    • Acme
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Acme is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
    • Delco
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Riegelwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Armour
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Armour is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
    • Byrdville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Byrdville is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
    • Sandyfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Sandyfield is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
    • Bolton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Waccamaw
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hallsboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Hallsboro is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsboro
  • New Hanover County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Town Creek, with the one closest to Town Creek listed first.
    • Silver Lake
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Silver Lake is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
    • Hightsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hightsville is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightsville
    • Myrtle Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Myrtle Grove is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Grove
    • Wilmington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Wrightsboro
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Wrightsboro is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
    • Sea Breeze
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Sea Breeze is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sea Breeze
    • Masonboro
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Masonboro is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonboro
    • Seagate
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Seagate is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seagate
    • Kings Grant
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Kings Grant is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Grant
    • Smith Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Smith Creek is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Creek
    • Carolina Beach
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Kure Beach
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Pender County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Town Creek, with the one closest to Town Creek listed first.
    • Currie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Rocky Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Brown Town
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Brown Town is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Town
    • Ashton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Ashton is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
    • Atkinson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Hampstead
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Helena
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Saint Helena is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Helena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
    • Topsail
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Topsail is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topsail
    • Burgaw
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Kings Landing
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Kings Landing is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Landing
    • Topsail Beach
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Town Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Town Creek.

Cemeteries Near Town Creek ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Town Creek.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Town Creek - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Town Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Town Creek, with the one closest to Town Creek listed first.

  • Forest Lawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Benton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Nelson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Thomas Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Chinnis Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Skipper Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Randolph Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Mercer Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenlawn Memorial Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • St. James Episcopal Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Cedar Hill Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (132 more) ...

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Town Creek had a population of 32 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Town Creek, with the one closest to Town Creek listed first.

  • Winnabow
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Malmo
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Malmo is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
  • Navassa
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Navassa is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navassa
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,534 people
  • Phoenix
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Phoenix is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
  • Northwest
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Northwest is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
  • Wilmington
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Wrightsboro
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Wrightsboro is located in New Hanover County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
  • Supply
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Armour
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Armour is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
  • Freeman
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Freeman is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
  • Wrightsville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Wrightsville is located in New Hanover County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsville
  • Byrdville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Byrdville is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Southport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Castle Hayne
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Makatoka
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Makatoka is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Makatoka

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Town Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Town Creek.

Newspapers Published in Town Creek ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Town Creek.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Town Creek, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Town Creek.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Town Creek:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<3>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Town Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Town Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.